Postcards From Page Side: Wishes for Phish’s 30th Anniversary

Anticipation. Tension before the release. Two of the things that Phish has always been masters of. And with summertime looming, which will see Phish embark on the beginning of their 30th year as a band, expectations are running sky high – especially for this journalist and fan who can’t wait to see what they have in store for us. So, for this week’s column, I simply wanted to run down a short list of some things I would like to see happen throughout the rest of the year.

[Photo by Jeremy Gordon]

7.) Encores Galore

If you’ve seen one Bouncin’ >Tweeprise encore, you’ve seen them all. Encores, in my eyes, have always represented a final exclamation point on what has often sometimes been a landmark show. This year, I hope the band decides to bust the hinges off the “formula” and play some wild encores that represent not only the evening’s show, but magnificent accomplishments in that venue, city, state or moment in time. Think 12.30.97’s mayhem (still a top three or five show for me thanks to the “unforgettable” factor and my favorite AC/DC Bag of all-time),  or 7.13.99’s Tuesday’s Gone encore, which I’ve been listening to a lot this week. The significance of 30 years in the Phish world cannot be understated.  So fellas, let’s move past the often tacked on encores and make them count. Some of us are still listening, and not in a hurry to scurry out to the lot for a fatty veggie burrito.

6.) Spock’s Brain

Let’s hear this dark opus once again! A fantastic (maybe best?) name for a song in the repertoire, this is one I’d simply like to hear again, as it’s been far too long (last time played Camden ’03, and only eight times total since its debut at the Voters for Choice Benefit in Lowell. Spock’s Brain is also a dangerously tough song for the band to re-learn, so by playing it again, it would show the fans that the band is going all out in their 30th year.

5.) New Material

With Trey confirming plans for Phish to enter the studio, I can only hope that some new tunes find their way into the setlists. While the past years have found the band’s overall playing growing by leaps and bounds, I would be remiss not to mention that most of 2010, 2011 and 2012 felt repetitive at times – in certain aspects. Let me explain: The styles of playing have varied and progressed, certainly, but the setlists have become almost predictable at times. Nothing could help this more than to debut some new tunes early on in the summer and watch them blossom organically with each voyage out on the road. The point of this wish is not the song itself, but rather the impetus of something new and exciting that can blossom into something much, much more in a short time span. We can only hope for such things this year…

4.) Explosiveness/Mixed Bag

Otherwise known as the X-factor. Don’t come out and mail in ANY shows. Play like you did 25 years ago when you were trying to prove something in Vermont, college frat parties and The Wetlands (where the soundcheck from the 3.3.90 show at that NYC Mecca helped birth Tweezer) – not just earn a mega-payday. Make each show special. One way I can see this happening is by tipping their collective hats and play certain covers or perhaps even recreate EPIC set(lists) from some historic venues? I know that may seem sacrilege but hey – why not think about it? The “S” show and “Fuck Your Face” show at Dick’s in Colorado the past few years make me think it could be pretty cool to take the setlist antics a little further more often.

3.) Halloween

One of the most important (and fun!) nights the band has ever played, it imperative the band plays Halloween this year. And if they truly had any balls, they’d play Zappa (regardless of what Gail says and what you and I think they should play), who is arguably their biggest influence, especially in their early, formative days a band. Make it the most memorable of what has already influenced the band to date, instead of what the style of playing will predict for the remainder of the year), practice your asses off (which would carry throughout the rest of the year) and take it back to your roots.

2.) Band vs. Audience Chess Match, Big Ball Jam, etc.

Revive some tricks and gags from the past.

Since the end of the New Year’s Eve show in 1995 the score has remained tied at 1-1 in the Band vs. Audience Chess Match, something I always thought was appropriate as it represents the reciprocal and equal nature of the band and their fans. The time is right for the return of the Chess Board during a potential Fall Tour. I can just imagine the crowd roar when we take down the decisive match in Hampton or back at MSG for New Year’s again (if either of those runs wind up happening), giving the fans a well-deserved victory in this epic battle. (I have certainly made sure to practice my chess moves just in case this day ever comes).

Along the same lines is the Big Ball Jam, Secret Language and things of that nature. Mix it up and give a nod to the ideas that made you. The Big Ball Jam, while not always producing magical musical results, would be really cool to see once or twice this year – if for nothing else to experience.

1.) Gamehendge

Maybe I’m crazy and completely off my rocker, but I certainly DO want to see a live version of Gamehendge in its entirety before I die. There’s no denying it: to me (and I’m sure at least some other fans out there) it’s the Holy Grail. Maybe it’s the fact that the last complete one was five days (7.8.94) before my first show, and I’ve been “chasing” it ever since. I mean it – really, truly. But I’d be a lot more likely to scale back my own touring schedule if I ever experienced the lore and legacy of Gamehendge in person. (Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know. You’ll believe it when you see it!).

A perfect setting would be on their actual 30th Anniversary. Again, call me crazy, but this will constantly be on my mind the closer we get to December 2nd.

In the end, I know this may seem like a guy who wants to relive the band’s glory days, and I guess in part that is true. This list could have been 88 things I wish, hope and long for for from my favorite band in existence. It’s only because we all care so much and want this year to be, literally, the best ever. It’s supposed to be a celebration! It’s their 30th Anniversary for crying out loud. But what I truly hope for is that Phish makes their own things even more of their own this year, by adding a fresh, revamped take on the classic Phish humor, gags, musical adventures and fairy tales I have mentioned.